Honoring our Veterans

On October 26 the Mendocino and Lake county community sent 50 of our World War II and Korean War veterans to Washington D.C. to visit the monuments and memorials built to honor their sacrifice to our nation. The Honor Flight program, through local and national donations, paid their way.

With their police escort the veterans visited nearly every memorial in a single day. They laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns. They visited the Air Force, Navy and Marine memorials along with the World War II, the Korean Veterans War Memorial and the Women's War Memorial.

During their flights to and from Washington D.C. our veterans were honored at each stop, treated as the Very Important Persons they are. Water cannons greeted their flight's arrival in Washington D.C. The Washington area Elks Club hosted dinners for them and everywhere they went crowds clapped and thanked them for their service. When they returned, they were escorted to receptions in their honor.

Willits area World War II veterans who went on the trip included Daniel Chesser, Russ Clatty, Paul Krause, Leonard Munson, Louis Schnitzler and Denver (Smitty) Smith. Korea War veterans included Kurt Ackermann and Paul Ubelhart.

While at the World War II Memorial, a number of local veterans who had perished before they could visit their memorial were also honored through the Flags of our Heroes program.